WhatGradsMake
Bachelor's-27% vs national median183 grads tracked

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Western Carolina University

Ranked 40th of 41 bachelor's programs in Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations by 5-year earnings.

Median · 1 year out
$31,799
middle 50%: $23,890 – $43,317
Median · 5 years out
$50,831
middle 50%: $38,967 – $68,659
Median · 10 years out
$76,015
middle 50%: $47,392 – $103,464

Salary trajectory

Median earnings vs the national median for Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations (bachelor's) graduates.

This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates

Graduates of Western Carolina University's bachelor's program in Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations earn a median $31,799 one year after graduating, rising to $76,015 by year ten. Five years out, earnings run 27% below the national median of $69,584 for this field, ranking 40th of 41 reporting programs.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.

Will the degree pay for itself?

Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.

Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).

Paid off in
8.2 yrs
≈ $10,113 total interest

Same major at other universities

SUNY College of Agriculture & Technology at Morrisville
$55,665 · 5 yrs out
Lamar University
$55,592 · 5 yrs out
St. Cloud State University
$54,580 · 5 yrs out
Oregon Institute of Technology
$54,404 · 5 yrs out
University of North Carolina -Greensboro
$52,963 · 5 yrs out
Southern University at New Orleans
$52,920 · 5 yrs out
University of Maine - Machias
$45,244 · 5 yrs out

Other majors at Western Carolina University

Education (Doctorate)
$96,791 · 5 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians (Master's)
$95,724 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$88,779 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$88,474 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$86,622 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$86,297 · 5 yrs out
Computer Science (Bachelor's)
$86,297 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Master's)
$86,216 · 5 yrs out
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's)
$85,927 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$85,430 · 5 yrs out
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctorate)
$84,494 · 5 yrs out
Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's)
$81,907 · 5 yrs out

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